India

Only one day left to the weekend now and there’s still room for a couple more Formula 1 races before the season is over. This time the teams have moved to India, which is a first time visit for Formula 1. Many of the drivers, team members and other people associated with Formula 1 in one way or another are on Twitter and they all seem very excited with everything. Not just the track, but New Delhi and all of India in general.

A lot of great things have been said about the track. The width of the track varies and turn 10 is supposedly one of the most spectacular turns on any circuit. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology - a BlackBerry and the interwebs - it’s possible for us commoners to get a glimpse of the track even before the drivers have had a chance to test their cars there. Trackside Operations Director at Lotus Renault GP, Alan Permane, is an eager Twitterer and has been kind enough to post a lot of pictures from a walk around the circuit. Here are the pictures with his own comments and links to the original pictures:

Exit T1 into T2 yfrog.com/gzdegkdj
Exit T1 into T2 yfrog.com/gzdegkdj
Entry T3. Where’s the apex?? yfrog.com/o0lglzij
Entry T3. Where’s the apex?? yfrog.com/o0lglzij
T3 apex. Totally blind braking and turn in. yfrog.com/ntqqyjj
T3 apex. Totally blind braking and turn in. yfrog.com/ntqqyjj
The super-wide entry to T5. yfrog.com/h7jepekj
The super-wide entry to T5. yfrog.com/h7jepekj
T6 and T7. yfrog.com/kgtxxmaj
T6 and T7. yfrog.com/kgtxxmaj
T8 leading straight into T9 yfrog.com/nvmn1lj
T8 leading straight into T9 yfrog.com/nvmn1lj
The first part of T10, that goes on and on…. yfrog.com/h3cuydkj
The first part of T10, that goes on and on…. yfrog.com/h3cuydkj
And on….. yfrog.com/hse1jinj
And on….. yfrog.com/hse1jinj
And on, into T11 yfrog.com/hsim4gpj
And on, into T11 yfrog.com/hsim4gpj
T13 into T14, very quick change of direction. yfrog.com/gy40885553j
T13 into T14, very quick change of direction. yfrog.com/gy40885553j
The downhill and off camber T15. yfrog.com/h84cvvoj
The downhill and off camber T15. yfrog.com/h84cvvoj
Last corner and pit entry. yfrog.com/kg40348929j
Last corner and pit entry. yfrog.com/kg40348929j
Start finish straight. yfrog.com/hwu8jyrrj
Start finish straight. yfrog.com/hwu8jyrrj
One of the track support vehicles. #lovethisplace yfrog.com/nwvbkaj
One of the track support vehicles. #lovethisplace yfrog.com/nwvbkaj
Practising for the driver parade. Track looks very dirty and dusty but I’m sure it will be cleaned. yfrog.com/18npkpbj
Practising for the driver parade. Track looks very dirty and dusty but I’m sure it will be cleaned. yfrog.com/18npkpbj

The track does look a bit dirty, let’s hope they’ll manage to clean it up before practice 1 on Friday. Since the tarmac is brand new, the track will be slippery and the driver’s only experience with the track so far has been simulator driving. It’s a shame that both the drivers and constructors championship are already decided, but we’ve still got the potential for some great driving this weekend. Add the potential for the odd power failure (as reported by several people on Twitter) and disgruntled farmers (whose land was acquired to build the $350-million circuit) to the equation and we might be in for a very dramatic weekend.

As an added bonus, here’s 2011 World Champion Sebastian Vettel taking us through a lap:


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